When making your end-of-year donations, please remember The Vegetarian Resource Group. We greatly appreciate your support. Visit: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some of the ways your donation will be used throughout the year to come:

$25 Sponsors sending materials to a Vegetarian/Vegan or Animal Rights Group located overseas in a poor country.

$50 Would go towards reprinting copies of our various vegan brochures/handouts.

$100 The cost to send a box of vegan literature to a student vegetarian/animal rights/ environmental organization for outreach on their campus.

$200 Allows VRG to send Vegetarian Journal for a year to 20 high school students applying to the Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship.

$500 Will send materials to health professionals to use with clients on college campuses, in hospitals, at wellness events, and in work places.

Thank you and happy 2020!

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal features a column called Vegan Action. Here we highlight an inspiring vegan activist. In the latest issue we feature Avery Yale Kamila, a newspaper columnist from Maine.

“Avery Yale Kamila is a columnist for the Portland Press Herald and covers all sorts of vegan news — from the growing plant-based seafood industry (we’re talking about Maine after all!) to how to navigate Maine as a vegan. She takes national vegan news, like the economic growth of plant-based meat, and adds a local spin.”

You can read the entire column written by Emily Carter here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2019issue4/2019_issue4_vegan_action.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom.

In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

The VRG recently received an email from a high school student. He needed an outside source for a research project and turned to us.

He asked: Why is dairy-free better for the environment?

Here is our response:

There are many ways to approach the question.

From a water usage perspective, it takes more water per calorie and per gram of protein to produce dairy milk compared to some types of crops used in dairy-free milk but not all. In the table below, use “oil crops” for soymilk; “cereals” for oatmilk; and “nuts” for nutmilks.

Here’s the reference: https://waterfootprint.org/en/water-footprint/product-water-footprint/water-footprint-crop-and-animal-products/

Interestingly, dairy butter has a lower water footprint (for some parameters) than other sources of fat.

Here is an article that’s easier to “digest” than the previous one: https://waterfootprint.org/media/downloads/Hoekstra-2012-Water-Meat-Dairy_2.pdf 

Here’s one that looks at soymilk v. cow’s milk: 

https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/the-water-footprint-of-soy-milk-and-soy-burger-and-equivalent-ani

You can also consider the carbon footprint (greenhouse gas emissions) of foods. Here’s a great resource: 

http://static.ewg.org/reports/2011/meateaters/pdf/methodology_ewg_meat_eaters_guide_to_health_and_climate_2011.pdf

 In terms of carbon emissions, rice and nutmilks are worse than soy and cow’s milk as you see summarized here:  http://www.greeneatz.com/foods-carbon-footprint.html 

The rice is particularly bad because of methane production.

However, other researchers have come to different conclusions:

This source sheds more light on the life cycle assessment for soy v. dairy milk. Look especially at Table 3 on p. 18. According to this reference, soy is better for the environment than dairy milk. But, this article was written before the Amazon fires, so it’s not up-to-date. http://envormation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Soy-milk-an-attributional-Life-Cycle-Assessment-examining-the-potential-environmental-impact-of-soy-milk.pdf

This article places the topic in a larger perspective: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4672819/

Serving muffins during the holiday season will be well-received. Debra Daniels-Zeller’s previous Vegetarian Journal article Muffin Mania offers recipes for Carrot Cake Muffins, Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins, Apple Cider Walnut Muffins, Pumpkin Muffins, Gluten-Free Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins, and Gluten-Free Banana Nut Muffins.

Read the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2014issue4/2014_issue4_muffin_mania.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom.

In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

The Vegetarian Resource Group has one needs based paid internship ($4,200 stipend) in Baltimore this coming summer for eight weeks.

To apply send a resume, writing sample, and cover letter addressing your need, vegetarian knowledge, past activism, short term and long term goals, and what you hope to learn from the internship.

Send to Attn. Internship; vrg@vrg. Indicate if applying for the needs based internship. For more information, see: http://www.vrg.org/student/index.php  and https://www.vrg.org/student/eleanor_wolff_scholarship.php

Salads are popular during summer months; however, you can prepare a delicious warm winter salad as well. A previous Vegetarian Journal article by Debra Daniels-Zeller serves up recipes for Spicy Black Bean, Corn, and Couscous Salad; Buckwheat and Rice Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette; Hot Italian Bean and Pasta Salad with Broccoli; Curried Lentil Salad; Sesame Noodles with Wilted Greens; Whole Grain and Cabbage Salad with Lemon-Peanut Dressing; and Smoky Potato-Squash Salad.

Read the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2000nov/2000_nov_winter_salads.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom.

In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide:

Eat Love

17870 Newhope St. #130, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

For breakfast enjoy items such as Hash and Dash Burrito and Chick’n and Waffles. Appetizers include Buffalo Fries and Chick’n Mac-n-Cheeze Bowl. Also try one of their salads including Chick’n Kale Salad and Fiesta Salad. Also be sure to order one of their Chick’n buckets or various sandwiches. Children’s meals are available as well as desserts and beverages.

Lekka Burger

81 Warren St., New York, NY 10007

Their burgers are housemade and contain no soy or gluten. Also enjoy fries that can be topped with one of their many toppings, as well as salads, shakes, and soft serve.

Lick It Up

114 E. Mills Ave., El Paso, TX 79901

This restaurant has a great variety of Mexican foods to offer that are all 100% plant-based. Gorditas, quesadillas, flautas, carne asada fries, and more can all be ordered at their location that offers customers both outdoor and indoor seating and is attached to a bar.

Sticky Sweet

119 Cumberland Ave., Portland, ME 04101

Enjoy vegan, gluten-free ice cream made from scratch! Flavors vary by season. They also make their own waffle cones.

Vegout Bethlehem

1 E. Church St., Bethlehem, PA 18018

Offers a variety of options like vegan parfaits, cheese steaks, BLT sandwiches, and more! Food is presented beautifully on an individual tray when eating in, but can also be ordered to-go! This restaurant is also across the street from the town’s public library and down the street from the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts.

Vertical Diner

8124 SW Barbur Blvd., Portland, OR 97219

Come enjoy the lively atmosphere at Vertical Diner where the focus is on organic and local ingredients. Try a Cali Burger, Jerk Chicken Burrito, or the very popular Tender Tiger faux chicken strips. With great prices and an all-vegan menu, you can’t go wrong at Vertical Diner.

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal includes reviews of recent vegan books. In our latest issue we looked at Bravo Express by Ramses Bravo. Chef Ramses works at TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, CA, and uses herbs, spices, and creativity to produce vegan dishes that contain no added sugar, oil, or salt. This book contains SOS-free, whole-plant-food dishes that are easy to prepare. You will find menus for two weeks with recipes and photos.

The Plantiful Plate by Christine Wong is beautifully designed and offers readers handy charts with numerous options for each recipe’s preparation. This allows for flexibility and makes the odds better that you will have all the ingredients on hand when you start cooking. For example, to prepare her Fried Rice recipe you choose a grain such as rice, quinoa, or millet; an aromatic including fresh chives, garlic, or shallots; an oil; vegetables like edamame, snow peas, or broccoli; finely chopped greens such as bok choy, chard, or spinach; and seasoning including soy sauce or nutritional yeast. An exact quantity for each ingredient category is listed. You will also find an example of a complete recipe using some of the suggestions found in her chart.

Your Complete Pregnancy by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, will enable you to calm down family, friends, and doctors that might be concerned you are having a vegan pregnancy. It explains what women should eat for a healthy vegan pregnancy and provides critical information to know during each trimester, as well as during labor and delivery. You will also find more than 50 vegan recipes.

Read the entire column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2019issue4/2019_issue4_book_reviews.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom.

In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

Sheetz, a Mid-Atlantic restaurant and convenience chain, announced they are now offering Beyond Burgers at all their 597 store locations. See: https://www.sheetz.com/newsroom/article?title=sheetz-partners-with-beyond-meat-to-introduce-new-plant-based-burgers-&id=40LK4urNdeYN8H4qKYXHh6

If you stop at one of these stores while traveling or filling up your gas tank, and try a veggie burger, let us know about the experience.

The contents of this posting, our website, and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.

For information on other restaurant chains, see https://www.vrg.org/fastfoodinfo.php

For vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the USA and Canada, go to https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

A federal court blocked the state of Arkansas from enforcing its meat label law that doesn’t allow companies to use words like “burger, and “roast” to describe products that are not made from animals, such as veggie burgers, even if modified by qualifiers such as “vegan,” “veggie,” or “plant-based.” For information, see: https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/arkansas-made-it-illegal-call-veggie-burger-burger-were-suing

Also, you may be interested in The Vegetarian Resource Group FDA testimony on a related topic:  https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/22/vegetarian-resource-group-testimony-submitted-to-food-and-drug-administration-fda-on-horizontal-approaches-to-food-standards-of-identity-modernization/